In 2020, the Louisiana Board of Regents created a nine-region, statewide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (LaSTEM) network whereby multi-parish collectives expand access to STEM education and pave the way towards a more inclusive and equitable STEM workforce. Each Regional STEM Center inculcates STEM culture and promotes activities that raise STEM awareness, participation, achievement and career opportunities by way of its networks of educators, business leaders, STEM professionals, and community leaders.
Region Six
CenlaSTEM, the Region 6 LaSTEM Network Center maintains this vision through its service as a trusted STEM resource that engages students, families, educators, and the entire community. We embrace:
- Broad family and community support for STEM education
- STEM education from early childhood through college and employment
- A systemic approach that integrates STEM within schools and districts, including out-of-school-time settings
- Partnerships between business, industry, and the greater community for PK-16 career-building engagement and programming
- Opportunities that provide STEM educators and education leaders ways to improve their content knowledge and pedagogical skills
- Equitable access to and inclusion in STEM for underrepresented students—so they may think of themselves as STEM earners and develop an identity as someone who knows about, uses, and sometimes contributes to STEM.
CenlaSTEM, the Region 6 LaSTEM Network Center is hosted by Northwestern State University and is located on the NSU Cenla campus. Region 6 encompasses these seven parishes:
- Avoyelles
- Catahoula
- Concordia
- Grant
- LaSalle
- Rapides
- Winn
We're Part of a Larger STEM Learning Ecosystem
In our commitment to STEM education, we maintain official membership with the national STEM Ecosystems Community of Practice, a Global Community of Practice with extensive sharing of resources and expertise among leaders from education, business and industry, non-profits, and philanthropy. Our work also directly aligns with the priorities outlined by the National Science and Technology Council's Strategic Plan for STEM Education.
RECIPE for Rural STEM
One of our statewide initiatives is RECIPE for Rural STEM. Through research and conversations with our community partners, parents, school administrators and students, we are learning what is needed so that we can create STEM opportunities that are Relevant, Educational, Career Minded, Impactful, Purposeful, and Engaging.
